THIS IS HOPE: POWER OF CONNECTION

By Kim Humphrey, Director of Operations

The Winter Wonderland is an exciting event. With Santa, festive music, gifts for the families, and even snow â„, we hear from a lot of kids and families that it’s their favorite event of the year at Billy’s Place. 

I saw all of the fun this year, but I also witnessed the power of connection—kids and families being surrounded by people who get what it’s like to lose a loved one.

The weight of decisions after losing a spouse

I was sitting around the fire pit with parents from two of our families. They were both watching their kids run back and forth in the snow when I asked the mom how her upcoming move was coming along. The question sparked an air of familiarity between her and the other parent. He had lost a spouse and was now facing the decision about where will be the best place for his family to live, and where they will find the support they now need. Where you’ll live after a spouse dies isn’t something that many people ever consider—not until they have to. It’s one of those decisions that can feel so lonely. But this was one of those moments where they didn’t feel alone.

Virtual friends meet for the first time

And, this week, when I was chatting with a mom, about re-registering for groups in 2022, she shared how much her family enjoyed Winter Wonderland. She and her daughter met another mom and her daughters for the first time in person. Both families have attended virtual groups and have come to know one another from the computer screen. Winter Wonderland was the first chance for the moms and their girls to meet after months of connecting virtually!